Coin-operated machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. H. ASHWBLL.

G01N OPI-:RATED MACHINE. No. 452,068. Patented May 12, 1891.

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W. H. ASHWELL. GOIN OPERATED MACHINE.

wA UM m@ M m @mw Nrrnn STATES PATENT Ors-Fica.

VILLIAM H. ASHWELL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

COIN-OPERATELD `MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 452,068,6.ated May 12, 1891.

Application filed November 12, 1890. Serial NNO. 371,144. (No model.)

To allv whom it may concern.-

v Be it known that l, WILLIAM H. AsHwELL, of St. Louis, Missouri, have made a new and useful Improvement in Coin-Operated Machines, of which the following is afull, clear,

and eXact description.

The improvement relates more especially7 lro that class of coin-operated machines in which electric currents are employed, and the improvement is applicable to nearly if not quite all such coin-operated machines. l

A leading feature of the improvement is the provision whereby the passage traversed by the coin is automatically cleared of obstructions.

Another feature is the provision by which the coin is enabled'to effect the operation of an electric currentv sufficiently strong to accomplish the ultimate movements of machines such as are under consideration.

An additional feature is the means for discharging the coin after it has effected the operation of the electric current, all, together with 4minor features of the construction, substantially as is hereinafter described and claimed, aided by the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a front elevation exhibiting a sufficient portion of a coin-operated machine for an understanding of the improvement in question. The receptacleinto which the coins may be discharged is shown in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a plan of the parts of Fig. l, saving the receptacle referred to; Fig. 3, a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4., a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. The coin has entered the chamber which forms the lower end of the passage traversed by the colin and has passed far enough thereinto to come into contact with the movable part of the circuitcloser; Fig. 5, an end elevation looking toward the inlet end thereof of the chamber of Figs. 3 and et and the parts being as in Fig. 4t; Figs. 6 and 7, views respectively similar to those of Figs. 4 and 5, but showing the coin advanced far enough into the chamber to effeet the closing of the parts of the circuitcloser; Figs. S and 9, additional views respectively similar to those of Figs. 6 and 7, but showing the coin being discharged from the chamber and the circuit-closer opened, and Fig. lO a section on the line l0 l0 of Fig.

l. Some of the views are upon an enlarged `proper'coin subsequently introduced, and the operation of the machine is accordinglyinterfered with or arrested. I overcome the difficulty referred .in the following manner substantially: v

A represents the escutcheon or plate which contains the slot B, which is the inlet through which the c oin O is introduced into the passage D. 'The novel feature of the inletis the division of the escutcheon or plate into separated parts a. a', which in themselves are snitable conductors of an electric current, but which by means of suitable non-conductive material E are electrically insulated. The passage D leads downward to cause the`coin delivered into the upper end of the passage, as described, to roll or slide downward and be delivered into a chamber F, which forms or is at the lower end` of the passage. Vhatever is introduced through the slot B finds its way into this chamber, and Whether it is a proper coin or whether it is any article or other coin improperly in the chamberit must be removed from the chamber to enable the subsequently-introduced proper coin to act. To this end the chamber is so contrived that it may open and its contents be discharged whenever the proper coin is inserted in the slot at the upper end of the passage, and this is accomplished, preferably,in the following manner: By causing the proper coin as it is introduced into the slot B to serve as a circuit-closer by coming into contact with both of the escutcheon parts a a simultaneously and thereby causing an electric current to pass through the escutcheon parts and coin and to actuate a magnet which in turn coacts IOC with an armature attached to the movable part of the chamber, and in consequence causes such movable part to move and open the chamber and thereby effect the discharge of the contents of the chamber.

G represents a suitable magnet for the purpose in question. It is suitably supported, as by means of the arm g. from some fixed part of the construction. The armature gis secured to the bottom f of the chamber F. Said bottom is pivoted at f to the side f2 of the chamber, thereby adapting it to be swung aside, as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 8. The lower end wall f3 of the chamber is preferably attached to said bottom and moves with it. As the bottom is thus drawn sidewise whatever' is resting upon it is, by coming against the side f2 of the chamber, dislodged from off the bottom to drop into any suitable receptacle 1I.

The preferable method of operating the magnet G is as follows: I represents the wire connecting the escutcheon part a with the pole g3 of the magnet. I represents another wire leading from the escutcheon part (l. It does not lead directly to the other pole g3 of the magnet, but through the battery .I and thence to the magnet, and preferably as follows: The wire I leads to the wire K and thence along that wire to the battery. From the battery the current passes along a wire K and at a point t' thereon the currentv is taken onto a wire l2, which leads to the )ole g3 of the magnet. By this means or by any other equivalent means a proper coiu-say a nickel-when introduced into the slot B, as shown in Fig. 1, serves to close the described circuit, and the magnet G, before the coin can reach the chamber F, acts not only to effect the opening of the chamber and to discharge its contents, but also to allow of the chamber being closed again, for as soon as the coin has passed the escutcheon parts the circuit opens again andthe magnet in consequence ceases to act upon the chamber-bottom, whereupon a suit-able meanssuch as a spring not shownacts to effect the closing of the chamber-bottom, and all before the coin finds its way into the chamber.

On reaching the chamber the coin C effects the closing and opening of another electric circuit. In performing this last-mentioned work the coin does not act as an electric conductor, but as a means for moving another part which in turn effects the closing and opening of the circuit last` referred to. This is accomplished by means of some dimension of the coin-that is, its thickness or its diameter. Its diameter is preferably utilized in the following manner: The coin rolls along upon the chamber-bottom f until its upper edge encounters a light springy strip L, Figs. 1- and 5, of metal suitable for conducting an electric current and attached at one end say, to the chamber F or other support. 'lhe other end Z of the strip is free, and the shape, stiffness, and weight of the strip are such that in connection with the weight of the coin and the position of the chamberbottom the coin as it continues to descend in the chamber is enabled to wedge thc strip upward orso as to cause thefree end of the strip to come into coiitactwith another conductor L, and thereby effect the closing of the lastnamed circuit. To more effectually carry out this particular part of the construction the end I of the strip is turned upward at Z2 and then backward at Z3, and the part L is not strictly a fixed part, but is preferably a strip of springy material having a free end l", adapted to form a contact for the strip Land to yield slightly as such contact is made, by which means the coin in its action can more surely effect the desired closing of said circuit. This last-described position of the coin and circuit-closer is represented in Figs. 6 and 7.

The coin has uplifted the free end of the strip L, and the circuitlast referred to is closed. The chamber F,or so much of it as the coin comes in contact with at the time it is effecting the closing of the circuit is of non-electric conductor material to prevent the electric current from passing in the wrong direction. The electric current referred to is preferably derived from the same battery J, and it is conducted, preferably, in the following manner: The current passes along the wire K to the strip L. Another wire M leads from the strip L to one pole a of a magnet N. The wire K, which, as stated, connects with the battery, leads to the other pole of the magnet N. Hence when the strips L L are brought into contact the magnet N is excited and acts to draw its armature n toward it. This lastnamed armature is attached to an arm n.3, which is pivoted at n, and whose free end a, when the armature is drawn toward the magnet, forms a contact with mercury O in a cup o. By this means another heavier electric circuit is closed, and preferably as follows: The current, as before, is derived, preferably, from the same battery J. The magnet used in said heavier circuit is not shown, but the current is conducted to its poles from the battery by means of a wire 0', which leads from the battery to one of said poles, and to the other of said poles the course is from the battery along the wire K to the point k thereon, and thence along` a wire o2 to the arm n, thence along said arm to the mercury O and cup o, and thence onto a wire 03, which leads to said last-named pole. As this last-referred-to magnet is in its size, style, location, and immediate connections and su rroundings` variously constructed, arranged, and modified according to the Various forms of duty to be performed byit, and as for the purposes of the present application it is unnecessary, and as one such construction is set forth in a pending application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 371,731, filed November 17, 1890, I do not here exhibit anything in addition to the wires leading to the magnet last referred to; but whatever mechanism the prescntimprovc- IOO IIO

ment may be associated with it is desirable that the coin be discharged from the chamber F after the described contact of the parts L L has been effected. To this end the last-described circuit is brought into requisition, and preferably in the following manner: P represents a wire leading from the wire 03 t0 one of the poles of the magnet G, and P represents another wire leading from the wire o to the other pole of the magnet G. Hence as soon as the current flows along said wi res o o3 the magnet G is excited and its armature is drawn, as before, to eifect the opening of the chamberF, and thereby to discharge the coin, as before. I desire not to be limited in effecting the last-described movement to any special meansforconductingthecurrenttothemagnet G, and said wires P P', in place of leading directly to the magnet G, may connect with other wires, respectively, which in turn lead to the poles, respectively, of said magnet. The magnetN is in effect a relay-magnet, and its value in the present connection consists in this:

The momentum of the coin as it passes through the machine is usually insufcient to effect the operation of a circuit-closer of an electric circuit strong enough to accomplish the various operations which coin-operated machines are required to perform. While such momentum is occasionally great enough to accomplish the movement of a circuitcloser whose parts in size and Weight are proportioned to the strength of the circuit referred to, it cannot be relied upon. I overcome the difliculty by means of the described interposition of a lighter circuit whose circuit-closer the coin in its movement can surely operate, and then utilizing said lighter circuit to effect the closing of a heavier circuit beyond.

It will be observed that the chamber into which the coin finds its way must be both opened and closed during the interval which occurs between the introduction of the coin into the slot at the upper end of the passage and the arrival of the coin at the lower end of the passage. This interval, therefore, must be sufficiently prolonged to enable the chamber to be thus opened and closed. To this end the passage which the coin traverses is made sufficiently circuitous, as by inclining the passage sidewise as well as downward, as described, to retard the movement of the coin long enough to give time for said chamber to be closed after the coin has entered the pas-l sage at the upper end thereof.

1. In a coin-operated machine, a coin-slot in separated electrically-iusulated parts, for the purpose described.

2. In a coin-operated machine, the combination of the coin-slot, a chamber into which the coin passes after leaving said slot, and a magnet, said slot being in separated electrically-insulated parts, said chamber having a movable part for the purpose described, and provided or connected with an armature which coacts with said magnet, and the poles of said magnet, respectively, being electrically connected with said slot parts, respectively, for the purpose described.

3. In a coin-operated machine, the combination of the coin-slot, a passage beyond said slot, to which said slot is an inlet, a chamber at the lower end of said passage, and a magnet, said slot being in separated electricallyinsulated parts, said chamber having a movable part, for the purpose described, and provided or connected with an armature which coacts with said magnet, and the poles of said magnet, respectively, being electrically connected with said slot parts, respectively, for the purpose described.

4. In a coin-operated machine, a coin-slot and a magnet, said coin-slot being in separated electrically -insulated parts and the poles of said magnet being electrically connected with said slot parts, respectively, for the purpose described. i

5. In a coin-operated machine, the combination of the coin-slot, a passage beyond said slot, tol which said slot is an inlet, a chamber forming or at the lower end of said passage, and a magnet, said slot being inseparated electrically-insulated parts, said chamber having a movable part, for the purpose described, and provided with or connected with ,an armature which coacts with said magnet, the poles of said magnet being electrically connected with said slot parts, respectively, and said passage being inclined downward and IOO extended to said chamber, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. In a coin-operated machine, the combination of the coin-slot, a chamber into which the coin passes after leaving said slot, a magnet, and a battery, said slot being in separated electrically-insulated parts, said chamber having a movable part, for the purpose described, and provided or connected with an armature which coacts with said magnet, and the poles of said magnet being electrically connected with said slot parts, respectively, and with said battery, substantiallv as described. u

7. The combination, in a coin-operated machine, of a passage which is traversed by the coin, a relay-magnet, and a circuit-closer for said magnet, the parts of said circuit-closer being electrically connected with the poles, respectively, of said magnet, and one of said circuit-closer parts being in the path of the coin traversing said passage, for the purpose described.

8. The combination, in a coin-operated machine in which electric currents are employed, of a lighter circuit and a heavier circuit, said lighter circuit having its circuit-closer in the path traversed by the coin, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

IIC

the coin in ils movement through the lneehino, substzLnLinlly nsldeseribod.

i Witness my hand this 10th day of November, 1390.

WILLIAM II. ASIIWELL. Vvinnesses:

C. D. MOODY, A. BONVILLE. 

